In May 2012, Erin and Josh Bender sold their cars, rented their home in Perth, Australia, and booked a one-way ticket to Bali for themselves and their two children, Mia, now 6, and Caius, 5.
What started as a "six-month adventure" turned into much more, they tell Business Insider. Today, nearly four years later, they're still traveling nonstop around the world.
They've been to over 60 countries as a family and have booked about 40 flights along the way.
They've also become quite savvy savers: "The first year of travel, we ended up saving $40,000," they say. It was a combination of staying in more affordable countries — they spent half the year in Asia, where cost of living is much lower than in Perth — mindful spending, and not having to cover expenses such as utilities, gas, internet, and car insurance.
"Flying is the most expensive part of travel, but it doesn't have to be," Erin writes on their blog, "Travel With Bender." She also shares their secrets to finding cheap flights. Here are some of our favorites:
SEE ALSO: My favorite trick to save money on travel is a single decision that saves hundreds of dollars
1. Be flexible
"You need to be flexible on dates to get the best prices," Erin writes. "While we were in Manila, I was keeping my eye on the local airline, Tiger. One day it popped up with a one-peso fare ($0.02) to Boracay. There was only one flight left for the fare and it was the following day. We took it. We ended up on one of the world's most beautiful islands."
They recommend searching Skyscanner.com or momondo, which both give you an idea of the cheapest days and months to book a flight. The sites will also email you a daily alert, updating you on the price of the flight you searched.
Thinking long-term and planning ahead always helps, too. "One year I was booking flights to Bali from Perth and I noticed I could get two people to Kuala Lumpur for $350 return," Erin writes. "I bought the tickets as an anniversary surprise for my husband a year in advance and he never noticed because he thought it was the tickets for Bali."
2. Do your research
Start by checking all of the possible alternative routes. "If the flight has more than one leg, search the separate legs yourself," Erin writes. Breaking up a direct flight into two or more smaller flights has saved the Benders up to $400 on one trip.
You'll also want to make sure you look at all of your airport options. Many cities have multiple airports, and oftentimes flying into the secondary airport will be cheaper. Of course, you'll want to make sure the airport isn't too far out of the way, Erin notes: "Sometimes the small amount saved is lost in the extra transport required. Keep Google Maps open so you can calculate exactly how long the drive will take."
Finally, check the ticket price for one person before checking the price per family, the Benders recommend: "Many airlines price seats differently and will charge you the higher price if you are requiring more then one seat. If you choose just one seat, view the price, and then change your quantity, you will lock in the cheaper price for all seats."
3. Check the airline website for promotions
Even if you've found what you think is the best deal on a third-party booking site, you should still check out the airline's official website. "Once I've searched Skyscanner.com or momondo, I will head to the airline's official website to see if they are holding any specials or promotions," Erin writes.
Booking direct can also save in other areas, she explains: "Sometimes if you require extra baggage or other 'optional extras,' a third-party booking agent website may not account for that, and the official airline site will. So if you need more flexibility sometimes it pays to go direct."
See the rest of the story at Business Insider